Punjab: 11 Arrested in Major Drug Smuggling Case
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Synopsis
On March 24, Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force arrested 11 individuals, including five drug smugglers and three hawala money couriers, recovering drug money totaling Rs 5.09 crore. DGP Gaurav Yadav detailed the extensive operation targeting narco-terrorism networks.
Key Takeaways
- Punjab Police’s ANTF made significant arrests.
- 11 individuals apprehended, including drug smugglers and hawala operators.
- Recovery of Rs 5.09 crore in various foreign currencies.
- Mastermind identified as an inmate in Central Jail Amritsar.
- Collaboration with Central agencies crucial in the operation.
Chandigarh, March 24 (NationPress) Delivering a significant blow to the narco-terrorism hawala networks, the Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), in collaboration with Central agencies, has apprehended 11 individuals, which include five drug smugglers and three hawala money couriers, recovering a total of drug money in various foreign currencies amounting to Rs 5.09 crore, as stated by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Monday.
The detained drug smugglers are identified as Harjinder Singh, Harmanjit Singh, Sagar, Lavdeep Singh, and Harbhajan Singh. The hawala money couriers have been named as Saurav Mahajan, Tanush, and Harminder Singh.
The arrested hawala operators include Ashok Kumar Sharma and his associates Rajesh Kumar and Amit Bansal. This operation follows a two-month investigation that led to the arrest of Harjinder Singh and Harmanjit Singh, during which 263 grams of heroin and Rs 5.60 lakh in drug money were seized on January 21.
DGP Yadav informed the media that the ANTF police teams subsequently apprehended the three hawala couriers -- Saurav Mahajan, Tanush, and Harminder -- the following day, recovering Rs 47.50 lakh in drug money.
Continuing their investigation, authorities arrested two additional drug smugglers, Sagar and Lavdeep Singh, seizing Rs 5 lakh in drug money, an Activa scooter, and 160 grams of heroin from them.
Further inquiries unveiled the role of an inmate at Central Jail Amritsar named Harbhaj Singh, who was identified as the mastermind of this operation, maintaining contact with Pakistani drug smuggler Shahbaz from within the prison.
On January 26, the accused was brought from Central Jail Amritsar on a production warrant and formally arrested.
The Pakistani smuggler Shehbaz, a resident of village Burewal in Narowal district, had illegally entered India, resulting in an FIR registered against him in February 2021, after which he remained imprisoned in Central Jail Amritsar before his deportation back to Pakistan.
As investigations continued, police teams recovered an additional Rs 36.59 lakhs, bringing the total recovery of Indian currency to Rs 1.45 crore, alongside 2,63,630 Euros, $7,000, 10,020 Canadian Dollars, 27,500 Pounds, and 285 Dirhams, in addition to 372 grams of gold from various sites.
